Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Dual-Specs and Loot Distribution

Karl asks:

What are your thoughts on loot distro for classes that dual-spec during raids? Use dkp, or main spec rolls (but what is main spec now? and is it fair to classes who likely won't change specs? (ranged dps mostly)

It really depends on how your guild handles loot now. The guilds that run on pure DKP probably won't change anything. Pure DKP systems don't disadvantage pure DPS because the hybrids purchase more items, which tends to keep their DKP lower than the pure classes. In my experience, pure classes usually have more DKP than hybrids of similar attendance.

However, guilds with a priority system in place will probably have their members declare a main spec, and use that to determine who gets what. They may add a new level to the priority scheme. For example, "main-spec > off-spec > alts" might become "main-spec > 2nd-spec > off-spec > alts". But they may not, feeling this is more trouble than it is worth.

If you're really min-maxing, say with a Loot Council, you may see gear distributed with an eye to how much time is spent in each role. For example, pure classes might get preference on DPS gear because they will use it 100% of the time. Tank/DPS hybrids might get preference over Healer/DPS hybrids because it is more likely that a Tank will need to switch to DPS for several fights.

I don't think dual-spec will really change loot distribution though. Most hybrids already pick up multiple sets of gear under current systems, and I don't think it is worth the effort to formalize it.

It might cause drama in PuGs. PuGs will probably have to declare what type of loot they are looking for at the start of the run, as a DPS-main might be switching to healer just for this run, but would still want to roll on DPS gear.

6 comments:

I think the only difference dual specs will make is that more people will bother to collect multiple sets of gear. I think that a lot of people with hybrids who DPS do that because they prefer to DPS, and will use their off-spec for PvP purposes. I'd expect that there is an initial rush of people trying to grab as much gear as possible for all their possible specs after 3.1 comes out, that will die off as people realize that they rarely go outside of their main spec.

The people who regularly respec right now are the people who this will help the most, and they are already collecting multiple sets.

Our guild uses SKG, which makes the whole dual spec thing very simple. It up to the player to decide when he wants to bid.

For pugs I just roll on what I can use and I dont feel bad. If I am healing on my druid and a tanking item drop I am going to roll on it. If a Boomkin item drops I will pass, because I am feral / resto.

People might say "you can only roll on resto gear if you are healing". I think this is silly. What if I am running a heroic and in head to toe 25-man resto epics? Should I only be able to roll on downgrades? No.

Need/Greed is there for a reason. Its fair, as long as no one 'ninjas', it makes sense, and its easy.

I agree in the fact I don't think much changes. Most of my guild runs, most hybrids picked up off-spec gear anyway. Most hybrids will feel they have a use for most of the gear that usually goes the way of a disenchant.

"If you're really min-maxing, say with a Loot Council, you may see gear distributed with an eye to how much time is spent in each role. For example, pure classes might get preference on DPS gear because they will use it 100% of the time. Tank/DPS hybrids might get preference over Healer/DPS hybrids because it is more likely that a Tank will need to switch to DPS for several fights."

Highly risky imo

You're basically punishing people for being useful. Say you have a Ret Pally. His options are 1) never heal or 2) heal and lose loot prio. If he was dumb enough to help out one night you were short of healers and now is branded as not a proper dps his best option is to find a new guild.

I'm not sure that dual spec really changes much in terms of loot distribution. With the exception of tanking gear, players have always been expected to have a 'secondary' set of gear for their off-specs. While it's certainly easier to have your Ret Paladin heal with dual specs, I don't see how the change is going to change the realization that your Ret Paladin's healing gear will be heroic-scale gear rather than true raiding gear.